Jacko, totally agree. With the kind of technology used nowadays we wouldn't be able to use people the way that BHR is suggesting! BHR, the problem with what you suggest about freeing-up trained troops for front-line service is that all those people are being used for front-line service already and getting rotated in and out of posts in the UK. When they're out of the country their post is gapped. You'd have to create new posts for the unemployed to go to and that would mean a huge increase in the size of HMF, not politically acceptable. Jacko, back to you. 'Socially useful' work, apart from the H&S angle, which I'm sure many would try and pull, it's a great idea. Stuff the idea of demeaning people. If they are on benefits and unemployed then they should, if they can, work for it. Litter picking, graffiti cleaning the list is endless. When they re-nationalize the rail industry they could all work on the trains!
